Moving to the United States is a dream for many, but it’s not always easy to make that dream a reality. When I first got to New York with just a suitcase, $300 in my pocket and very limited knowledge of English, I thought the opportunities would come quickly.
Instead, my first year turned out to be the hardest of my life. From not being able to pay rent and eating instant noodles to not getting any job offers, every day was a real challenge. But those struggles taught me a thing or two that helped me survive – and eventually build a life in America. In this post, I’ll share my journey and some practical tips for anyone planning their first year in the USA.
The Language Barrier
Out of all the struggles I faced in my first year, the language barrier was easily the most painful. I still remember standing in a grocery store, too nervous to ask where the bread section was. Even small chats felt like mission impossible, and job interviews were even worse.
Employers would smile politely but never call me back, simply because I wasn’t confident enough. It was embarrassing at times, but it also became my biggest motivation. I started going to free English classes at the local library, I practised speaking with anyone who would listen, and I even forced myself to watch TV with subtitles just to pick up new words.
I realised that fluency doesn’t come overnight you have to put in the effort and have the courage to make mistakes every day. If you’re starting from scratch in the USA, there’s no better investment you can make than learning English. It’ll help you get by and be a key to your long-term success.
Struggling to Find a Place to Live
One of the first things I had to deal with when I got to America was finding somewhere I could actually afford. With just a few hundred dollars to my name, it seemed like renting even the smallest room in New York was out of the question. After looking for a while, I ended up in a tiny basement apartment with two people I didn’t know.
It was cold, cramped and far from comfortable, but it stopped me from going out on the streets. Looking back, I realise how important it was to prioritise survival over comfort in those early months. If you’re new to the USA, don’t set your sights too high on your apartment search. You could start by looking into shared housing, or have a look on local community boards or online.
It might not be the most exciting, but keeping your rent low at the start will give you the time you need to find steady work and settle into a new life.
The Struggle to Find My First Job
Finding work in my first year was easily the hardest part of my journey. I went into loads of stores and restaurants with my CV, but they turned me away because I didn’t have any experience in the U.S. and I couldn’t speak English fluently.
Every rejection felt worse than the last, and there were times when I wondered if it was the right decision to move here. But there was no way I was going to give up.
In the end, I got a job as a food delivery driver. It wasn’t the career I had always dreamed of, but it paid the bills and gave me a sense of independence I really needed. If you’re just starting out in the USA.
My advice is simple: don’t wait for the “perfect job“. Be open to survival work, like in restaurants, warehouses, delivery or cleaning.
They might not be glamorous, but they’re like stepping stones that’ll give you stability while you level up your skills and look for better opportunities.
Fighting Loneliness in a New Country
I found the loneliness hard to deal with, more than the money or the language. I’d left behind family, friends and all the things I was used to.
The nights felt longer than the days, and even in a city filled with millions of people, I often felt invisible. For weeks, I felt this emptiness, and then I realised that I couldn’t survive on my own. Things started to change when I joined a local community event and later volunteered at a food bank.
Meeting people who were going through similar struggles was really helpful, and I slowly started building a support system. If you’re new to the US, don’t isolate yourself. Join cultural associations, go to meetups, or even connect with local groups on Facebook.
Having people around who understand your journey doesn’t just ease the loneliness it gives you strength to keep moving forward.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, I would say that my first year in the US was the toughest period of my life. I was rejected over and over, lived on the bare minimum and battled loneliness like I’d never known it before.
But every struggle made me stronger, more patient and more determined. The American Dream isn’t about overnight success it’s about resilience, adapting when life gets hard, and taking it one step at a time, even when the path looks impossible.
If you’re getting ready for your own adventure, remember this: the start will be tough, but you’ll learn a lot. Take the survival jobs, watch your money, work on your English a bit at a time, and meet people wherever you can.
These small actions might not seem like a big deal at the time, but they’re building blocks for a better future.
I started with almost nothing, yet I survived and so can you.